Inking device



July'15, 1941. E. o. EcKLAND Erm. l

' INKING DEVICE Filed Jan. 13', 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'Ew aE@ July-15, 1941. l

E. O. ECKLAND EI'AL INKING. DEVICE Filed Jan. 13, y 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 15, 1941 Y INKING Davies Emil 0. Eckland and Walter H. Young, Chicago, lll.; said Eckland assigner to said Young Application January 13, 1940, Serial No. 313,692'

(Cl. 10i- 351) 8 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in inking devices for supplying a continuous supply of ink to a type roller and more particularly to a device that may be rendered inoperative readily upon actuation of said type roller, and Which is particularly adapted for use on check protectors or the like.

Known types of check protectors'are frequently provided with an ink saturated pad o-r roller for supplying ink to the type on the type roller. However, after extensive use, such inking pads or rollers dry out or the remaining ink hardens. The impressions recorded by the type roller then become faint and unsuitable for use, particularly on checks, or the like. Reinking has been obj actionable as it frequently resulted in oversaturation of the inking roller or pad, hence an oversupply of ink was deposited on the type and blurred impressions resulted.

With the present device the type roller is supplied with a fresh quantity of ink upon each rot-ation by an -inking roller that in turn is supplied intermittently with a predetermined quantity of ink from a reserve supply contained in a reservoir mounted Within the housiner of the machine. Y

Check protectors require both red and black ink, hence it is essential that two inlring devices be mounted on each machine, one containing red ink and the other containing black ink. ifhile Y:

recording black ink impressions, it is necessary that the inking device containing red ink be moved out of engagement with the type roller and while recording red ink impressions, the bla-ck inking device must be rendered ineffective.

To render the inking devices selectively in-operative necessitates the provision of suitable means preferably on the type roller carri-age to automatically move the inking rollers out of their normal type roller engaging positions.

It is therefore, an object of the invention to provide an inking device for inking the type on the type roller of Ia che-ck protector or the like, which embodies means t-o automatically render said device inoperative during selective intervals of operation.

Another object is to provide an inking device of the character referred to capable of delivering a uniform inl; supply to a type roller.

Another object is to provide ra novel inking evice, for a machine for making printed impressions, which is inoperative when said machine is not in use, thus preventing an oversupply of inl; from being deposited on the type thereof.

Another object is to provide an inkingl devi-ce thatis capable yof being mounted within the housing of a known type of check protector without necessitating material alterations of the latter.

Another object is to provide an inking device which is inexpensive to manufacture and main.

' adequate ink on a Itype roller, thus avoiding the ing specification; vin which reference is madeto possibility of recording faint impressi-ons.

The foregoing and such other objects of the' invention as will appear hereinafter, will be more readily understood from a perusal of the followthe accompanying drawings: wherein- Fig. l is a side elevational view of a known type of check protector showing a portion of its housing broken away to disclose one of the inking devices mounted therein. y u

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the check protector showing a portion of the housing broken away as in Fig. 1. y

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view f talrenon line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 4 is an enlargedvertical sectional view' through the inking device.

Fig.` 5 is a perspectiveview of the inking device.

Fig. 6 is a perspectiveA view of the transfer wheel. Y

Referring to the drawings in detail, the check protector illustrated includes a baseV I'I andan attached cover or housing i2. A rotatable shaft I3, mounted within the housing I2,.has its ends suitably journalled in .thefh'ousing end walls. VA

type roller lli carrying suitable type I5 is'keyed on the shaft I3V and is4 longitudinally slidable'V therealfong. A carriage I6 consisting of a horizontally disposed central bridge portion I'I and a pair of downwardly exten-ding end bearing mern'-rv bers i8 is freely journaledv on shaft lI3 adjacent the ends of the type roller I6. Thevcarriage I6V and the typev roller Ill are longitudinally shiftiable on shaft I3 in unison' upon manual adjustment'of van arm or handle I9 extending fromY said carriage to the outside ofthe housing. The arm t9 also 'prevents rotation of the when the shaft is rotated.

A bevel gear 22, secured to gear 23 rigidly secured on the end of a stud shaft 24 journaled in Ia bearing 25 in housing I2.A

An .oper-atinghandle 26 is mounted on .the ex.-

. tending end of said shaft whereby, uponinanipu- Red or black ink as required, is supplied to the?.y

type I5 bythe novel inking devices 2l and 28 respectively. As shown, said inking devicesare iixedly mounted within housing l2, one'on eachV As the construction l and side of type'.l roller I 4. operationof'eachof these devices is identical.' it is not `necessary to describe each in detail handilikeY carriage the rotatable shaft'V I3, adjacent one end, meshes with the companion numbers will designate like parts in each device.

The inking device 21 or 28 includes a substantially fiat rectangular shallow ink well or reservoir 3|, which is rigidly secured horizontally inside the housing l2 preferably by at least one bracket 32 depending from the bottom thereof adjacent one longitudinal edge. Extending upwardly from the ink reservoir 3|, preferably substantially midway between its ends, is a hollow conveyor housing 33, having side walls 34, rear wall 35, top wall 36 and front wall 31.

As best illustrated in Fig. 4, the open housing bottom is in direct communication with the ink reservoir 3|. An opening is provided at the front upper end of said housing by cutting away a portion of top wall 36 and by folding the upper portion of front Wall 31 inwardly and then downwardly to form a lip or shoulder 38.

Suitable ink conveyor means is contained Within the housing 33 to transfer ink from the reservoir 3| to the type I5. As shown, said means preferably is pivotally mounted within said housing to enable such movement thereof as may be required to disassociate an inking roller 49, carried thereby, from the type l when necessary.

The conveyor means includes a U-shaped bracket or frame 4| preferably formed from a metal strap of irregular outline bent over upon itself and has its lower free ends journaled on a bearing pin 42 extending between the housing side Walls 34. A pick-up Wheel 43, rotatably mounted on pin 42, between the spaced apart walls of bracket 4|, has a plurality of uniformly spaced apart recesses 44 on its circumferential face. A conveyor wheel 45, also mounted in bracket 4| directly above the pick-up Wheel 43, has a plurality of circumferential teeth 45 to mesh with recesses 44 of said pick-up wheel.

' A transfer wheel 41, having recesses 48 on its circumferential face, also is pivotally mounted in the bracket 4|. The recesses 48 also mesh with the conveyor wheel teeth 46. The marginal edges of the circumferential face of transfer wheel 41 are knurled to insure frictional engagement between saidA wheel andthe adjacent inking roller 49.

As best illustrated in Fig. 4, the conveyor bracket 4| normally is positioned so that the inking roller 49 protrudes through and slightly beyond thecut away front wall 31. The bent or closedupper end of the bracket 4| extends upwardly through the opening in the top housing wall 36. A leaf 4spring 5|, anchored to the outside of said top wall, bears against the rear edge of bracket 4| to Yyieldingly urge the entire conveyor assembly forwardly so that the inking roller 4 9 normally bears against the type roller I4,

In operation, that is, when the type roller is being rotated by manipulation of crank arm 26, theV chain of rollers and Wheels carried in bracket 4| are rotated in unison, due primarily to the frictional engagement between the type roller and the inking roller 49. Accordingly, the type I5 on said type roller is inked each time said roller is rotated. A fresh supply of ink is applied to the inking roller upon each operation thereof through operation of the trainof wheels in the conveyor means. This operation is substantially as follows: Ink in reservoir 3| is picked up in the recesses 44 of pick-up wheel 43 and deposited upon the meshing teeth 46 of conveyor wheel 45. As these ink bearing teeth engage in the respective recesses 48 of transfer wheel 41, the ink thereon is deposited on said wheel and When carried into contact with the inking roller 49, are depositedthereon and absorbed therein.

This mode of transferring minute quantities of ink from the reservoir 3| to the absorbent inking roller prevents oversaturation of said roller and blurring of impressions because the small deposits spread rapidly throughout the surface area of said roller by capillary attraction before being carried into contact with the type. The instant conveyor means also prevents ink from being spilled or overflowing from the device because the reservoir 3| is tightly sealed except at its point of communication with housing 33. At this point, the housing is shaped so that its front wall 31 and its rear wall 35 are closely adjacent the pick-up Wheel 43, thus said Wheel materially restricts the passage from the reservoir. Should an oversupply of ink be inadvertently conveyed or otherwise deposited in the housing 33 said oversupply will return at once to the reservoir 3| through an overflow pipe 52.

As previously mentioned, one of the inking devices, preferablydevice 28, contains black ink and the other device, preferably 21, contains red ink. When the type roller |4 is longitudinally positioned on its shaft toy enable the type l5 requiring black ink to make impressions, it is necessary that the inking device containing red ink be rendered ineffective. Conversely, when the type requiring red ink is positioned for use, the inking device containing black ink must be rendered ineffective.

The means adapted for rendering either of the inking devices in-operative is best illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. As shown, the carriage |1 carries suitable cam-shaped guides 53 and 54, one on each side thereof. These guides are illustrated as being formed of stiff wire, but it is apparent that they may constitute an integral part of the carriage I1 such as a horizontal web, whenA the inking devices are built into newly manufactured machines.

Assuming, for the purpose of this description, that the portion of the type roller I4, indicated at |441, is positioned as illustrated, to make black impressions, it wLll be noted that guide 53 is in contact with the extended upper end of the conveyor element 4| in device 21. This contact urges and retains the red ink conveyor means 4|, with its inking roller 49, back into its housing 33, against the action of spring 5|, and prevents the deposit of red ink on the type l5 when said type roller is rotated.

When the type roller |4 is longitudinally positioned to record red impressions upon being operated, that is; with the section |42) thereof in operative position, the cam member or guide 54 is made effective to render the inking device 28, which contains black ink, in-operative. Accordingly, either one or the other of said devices always is in an ineffective inoperative position.

Inasmuch as the type l5 on the roller of a check protector never extends over the entire circumferential surface of said roller, but frequently about half way therearound, it would serve no useful purpose to deposit ink over the entire circumferential area of said roller. Assuming that the inking device 28, for depositing black ink upon type l5, is in operative position, it is therefore only necessary to deposit ink on the face of the part-circumferential type |5 (Fig. 5). During the remainder of the revolution of the type roller, the inking device must be held ineffective. This feature is accomplished, in the case of both inking devices, by providingV a pair of cams 51 and 58 on the rotatable shaft I3, adjacent one end thereof.

Cam 51 is adapted to actuate mechanism for rendering inking device 2l inoperative and cam 58 is likewise operative with respect to inking device 28. That mechanism in each instance is identical and each includes a horizontal rod 6l journaled in the housing I2. Each rod has a cam-arm 5g near one end for engagement with the respective cam 51 or 58 whereby said rods are oscillatably rotated at selected intervals during rotation of the type roller. The other end of each rod 6i is bent at right angles (Fig. 3.) in the path of the respective inl; conveyor bracket 4|. Accordingly, when either rod is oscillatably rotated the bent portion $2 thereof moves the associated conveyor frame outwardly to position the inking roller thereof out of contact with the type roller. Obviously, the cams 51 and 58 are so positioned on shaft I3 with respect to the location of the type I5 on the type roller that the inking rollers are moved outwardly only after the type has passed therebeneath, hence the inking devices are held inoperative during part of the revolution.

It is apparent that the inking devices insure perfect inking of the type on the type roller thus guaranteeing clear impressions being recorded thereby. The inking devices, being automatic in operation, require no attention other than occasional filling of the reservoir 3l through a filling opening normally closed by a plug 63.

It also should be noted that ink is supplied to the inking rollers 49 in predetermined quantities and at regular intervals during operation of the devices only, thus preventing an over supply being deposited thereon and, because Vthe devices are actuated by frictional contact between said inking rollers and the type roller, Lthey are rendered in-operative when not in use. Any surplus quantity of ink which may be conveyed to the inking rollers 49 other than that normally required will drip therefrom and is returned to the interior of the housing 33 by lip 38.

It can therefore, be understood readily, that a very eicient means is provided to insure a plentiful supply of ink being deposited Aon the type only, which means is inexpensive to manufacture and requires little or no upkeep and may be adapted readily to machines now in use.

It should be understood, further, that although an exemplary embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawings. said disclosure is illustrative and not restrictive and that the invention is capable of attachment to other types of impressing machines and may embody numerous variations in detail structure without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An inking device of the character described comprising, in combination, an ink reservoir, a housing on said reservoir, conveyor means pivotally mounted in said housing, said conveyor means including a plurality of conveyor wheels and an inking roller, said conveyor wheels being operative to convey ink from the reservoir to said inking roller.

2. An inking device of the character described operatively associated with said pick-up wheel to transfer ink to said inking roller.

3. An inking device for inliing the type on a type roller comprising, in combination, an ink reservoir, a housing communicating with the interior of said reservoir, said housing extending upwardly therefrom, conveyor means pivotally mounted at its lower end in said housing, yielding means on said housing to urge said conveyor means into contact with said type roller, and means associated with the latterv operative to render said conveyor means inoperative.

4. An inking device, for a machine having a type roller mounted therein for making printed impressions, comprising, in combination, an ink reservoir, an inking roller, means operative to convey ink to said inking roller from said reservoir, yielding means to urge said inking roller into position to contact the type on said type roller while the latter is being rotated, and means associated with said type roller operative automatically to retain said inking roller out of engagement with said type roller.

5. An inking device, for a machine having a longitudinally shiftable type roller mounted therein for making printed impressions, comprising, in combination, an ink reservoir, an inking roller, means operative to convey ink to said inking roller from said reservoir, yieldingV means to urge said inking roller into position to contact the type on said type roller, a cam movable longitudinally with said type roller, and

y means actuated by said cam to retain the inking comprising, in combination, an inking roller, an

ink reservoir, a housing on said reservoir, conveyor means pivotally mounted in said reservoir, a pick-up wheel mounted in said conveyor means, and transfer wheels in said conveyor means roller out of contact with said type roller.

6. An inking device including an ink reservoir, having a housing thereon, conveyor means pivotally mounted in said housing comprising, in I combination, a pick-up wheel adapted to be mersed in ink in said reservoir, a transfer wheel, a conveyor wheel interposed between said pick-up wheel and said transfer wheel operative to convey ink from the pick-up wheel to the transfer wheel, and an inking roller adapted to be supplied with ink by said transfer wheel.

7. An inking device including an ink reservoir having a housing thereon, conveyor means pivotally mounted in said housing comprising, in combination, a frame, a pick-up wheel and a transfer wheel rotatably mounted in said frame, a conveyor wheel in said frame engaging said pick-up wheel and said transfer wheel, and an inking roller operatively engaging said transfer wheel.

8. An inking device Yadapted to supply ink to a longitudinally shiftable rotatable type roller, comprising, in combination, an ink reservoir, a housing on said reservoir, a frameA pivotally mounted at one end in said housing, a pick-up wheel in said frame partially merged in ink contained in said reservoir, an inking roller in said frame adapted to engage said type roller, a transfer wheel in said frame in frictional engagement with said inking roller, and a conveyor Wheel operatively connecting said pick-up wheel with said transfer wheel, said wheels operating to convey ink from the reservoir to the inking roller for deposit on said typev roller, and means operative upon longitudinal shifting of said type roller into a predetermined position to render said device inoperative.

EMIL O. ECKLAND. WALTER H. YOUNG. 

